London-headquartered boutique disputes firm CANDEY has expanded into Asia with the launch of a Singapore office.
The move marks the firm’s first presence in the region, adding to its existing offices in London, New York and the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
Ashkhan Candey, founder and managing partner for London and BVI, told Asia Business Law Journal that regional collaborations were also on the firm’s radar.
With Singapore as a regional base, a strategy centred on alliances with firms in key jurisdictions would be pursued.
“The current focus is on Singapore, which provides a perfect hub for the region. Our preferred plan is to work in collaboration with law firms in other [areas] such as in China, India and the Middle East,” said Candey.
He said the firm had enjoyed steady long-term growth, and it was the right time to focus on the Asia-Pacific market.
“We are very keen on the Asia-Pacific region and with our other offices, particularly London and the BVI, linking up to provide a one-stop shop in Asia for clients to be able to solve problems which have an English, BVI and US dimension,” he said following the new office’s 18 May launch.
“We are driven by the most interesting disputes work, and Singapore’s history and culture of enterprise is highly attractive. Why now? We have grown carefully over the 17 years we have been in business and, personally, with almost 30 years in the business, it’s now or never.”
Candey confirmed that Christopher Bailey would be the managing partner of the Singapore office and APAC region. The office will initially comprise three to four fee earners and focus on arbitration, commercial litigation, insolvency, corporate crime and trust disputes.
